Independent Enterprise
Wednesday, January 26, 1966
Pioneer’s Kin Arma J. Steele Dies at Home
A prominent and distinguished Payettean, Mrs. Arma Jacobsen Steele, 72, died at her home Sunday, following a lengthy illness.
Services were held today (Wednesday) at 3 p.m., at the Shaffer Chapel with the Rev. Palmer Wylde officiating. Interment followed at Riverside cemetery here.
Mrs. Steele was born April 12, 1893, at Payette and she lived most of her life in California. She returned to Payette in 1939.
The stately and grandiose Jacobsen residence, where she lived and passed away Sunday, stands as an imposing recollection to the area’s earliest days, when Mrs. Steele’s parents, N. A. and Mrs. Annie Jacobsen played a vigorous and vital role in Payette’s development.
The Jacobsens were among the first settlers here. N. A. Jacobsen brought the first fruit trees to the valley, from Europe and promoted the fruit industry here.
One of N. A.’s closest friends, the famed Senator William E. Borah of Idaho, gave Mrs. Steele the name "Arma". She was named after her mother and called “Little Annie” during her early life.
Surviving are two nephews, Noland Jacobsen, Bozeman, Mont., and Jack Jacobsen, Phoenix, Ariz.; three nieces, Mrs. Roma Huschke, San Diego, Calif., Mrs. Dorothy Kellogg, Cambria, Calif., and Mrs. T. A. Huffman, North Hollywood, Calif.; seven grand-nieces, Ann Josephson, Morro Bay, Calif., Jackie Gram, Santa Rosa, Calif., Arma Looney, Post Falls, Idaho, Diane Doolybend, San Gabriel, Calif., Lana Hock, Kensington, Calif., Kathy Jacobsen and Debra Jacobsen, both of Phoenix and two grand-nephews, Bruce Jacobsen of Bozeman and Mark Jacobsen of Phoenix.
